Director, Geopolitics at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

About The Job

Focus of the Role
The Director of Geopolitics is a new role within the Policy and Politics division.

• Its purpose is to lead a team providing political leaders worldwide with the insights they need, and establishing the Institute as a though leader in the biggest global issues. 
• This will include thinking about thematic priorities for countries around the world, including trade, security, alliances and cooperation. 
• It will also require a deep analsyis of regional or specific questions such as the conflict in Ukraine or relations with China, developments in the Middle East.
• The role will be vital in supporting colleagues in the Advisory division to develop and deepen TBI’s offer to governments. 
• TBI should be seen as a trusted provider of geopolitical analysis and policy thought leadership by Heads of Government, Opposition Leaders, and their teams, and by the wider policy ecosystem.
• This role reports to the Executive Director, Policy, and requires close working relationships with the Institute’s Executive Chairman, CEO, senior global Advisory colleagues, our Strategy and Partnerships and Internal Operations teams.

Key Responsibilities
The holder of this position will:

• Lead a research programme to explore geopolitical trends and policy challenges
• Develop analysis of issues and policy responses, including specific recommendations for governments and policymakers
• Oversee production of very high-quality published work and private briefing material, either for policy specialists, government counterparts, partners, or a general political audience
• Provide direct advice to senior leaders in TBI, and to external clients
• Advocate for the Institute’s point of view in external meetings and conferences, or through the media, growing our reputation in the field
• Provide collaboration and specific geopolitical expertise to other strands of policy work
• Support a stream of work within the Future of Britain programme, contribute to the overall policy strategy and play a part in its presentation and advocacy
• Support Advisory and Strategy and Partnerships colleagues to develop our reputation for geopolitics around the world, through appearances at forums outside the UK and work on regional or national policy questions
• Support senior leaders in the Institute in their external engagements on geopolitics
• Manage and be accountable for the team’s budget, ensuring expenditure is in line with budget, with robust management accountability
• Build, lead, coach and direct a team that operates in a globally integrated way across TBI
• Ensure the growth and development of a high-performing culture and provide a continued focus on learning, development and employee well-being
• Oversee and be accountable for recruitment across the practice
• Build strong, collaborative relationships across TBI and actively champion TBI’s progressive values

Person Specification:

• A sustained and extensive track record producing cutting-edge work in geopolitics within government, business, academia or a policy organisation
• A deep familiarity with geopolitical issues, including trade, security and international relations, and the biggest specific regional questions that animate political leaders
• A deep knowledge of how foreign policy is created and conducted, and the means by which leaders can exercise power on the world stage.
• A very extensive and deep network of global contacts through industry, academia and policymaking
• Experience of working closely with political leaders
• Sustained and extensive track record of public speaking and advocacy on geopolitics, including via broadcast media
• An outstanding ability to communicate complex issues to a range of audiences, from executive office level through to technical level
• Track record of leading high-performing teams and proven ability to build, inspire and retain teams to achieve exceptional objectives
• Excellent teamwork skills to work successfully within a complex and diverse organisation
• Strategic, entrepreneurial, and challenge the status-quo and develop plans for successful delivery of challenging objectives

The following attributes are advantageous:

• Have achieved national or international recognition of their work in the field, e.g. through citation, media coverage, formal recognition or awards
• Academic qualifications in relevant field and/or experience of working directly on foreign policy
• Experience of working in a more than one national setting